Elizabeth Akehurst is thrilled to be returning to Keynes once more, as she last exhibited back in Keynes in 2004 and will be showcasing her impressive paintings spanning over the past 16 years. Find out more.
By Elizabeth Akehurst, nee Blow (Eliot, 1969-1972):
I came to this University in 1969 to study mathematics and it was here I met my husband Andrew Akehurst (Eliot 1969-1972) who was studying English.
Three years later I left with a first class degree and went on to postgraduate studies at Cambridge, part of the first cohort of women admitted to King’s College Cambridge. After I completed an MSc at Newcastle we came back to Kent in 1976 and I went into teaching.
However a strong interest in painters and paintings has always formed an integral part of my life and having children and giving up full time work provided space.
I began to paint in the 1980’s and by the 1990’s I was exhibiting widely and able to drop many other commitments and declare myself a professional artist.
I have been with David and Dawn Lilford in Canterbury (www.lilfordgallery.com) since 2000 and they have represented my work at Art Fairs in London, Paris, Amsterdam, Dublin, Glasgow, and Edinburgh. I have exhibited at other galleries across England and Scotland.
My paintings are in the collections of the University of Kent, Canterbury and Medway Council and in private collections both in England and abroad.
I was presented with a Kalaimaiyam International Art Award in 2019.
I had a solo show here in Keynes in 2004 so it is real pleasure to have another. This has given me the chance to show work from the last sixteen years.
Group exhibitions
Lilford Gallery, Canterbury 2001-2020
Royal Engineers Museum Gillingham 2019
Halpern Gallery Chatham 2018
Art Fairs: 2005 to 2016: London, Paris, Amsterdam, Dublin, Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Canterbury
Sca Gallery Shrewsbury 2009-2011
20/21 International Art Fairs 2007-2010
Iona House Gallery, Woodstock 2008
New Grafton Gallery, London 2006
Art on Paper Fair, Royal College of Art 2005 -2006
Morningside Gallery, Edinburgh 2005
Rye Gallery, Sussex 2004 (featured artist, group exhibition)
Headcorn Gallery 2004
Blickling Hall, Norfolk 2003
Terence Macklin Gallery, Whitstable and Cambridge 2003
Portico Gallery, Riverhead, Sevenoaks 2003
Solo exhibitions
New Hall, Cambridge 2006
Rochester Art Gallery2005
Atrium Gallery, University of Kent 2004
Lilford Gallery, Canterbury 2018